No team in the league can be at its best with such rapid turnover at such an important supervisory position.

Del Rio, who coached the Jacksonville Jaguars, could be a candidate for another head coaching job in 2013. Especially if the Broncos have a successful 2012 season.

The Raiders hired Allen after Denver’s defense last year ranked only 20th in the 32-team league in yards allowed and 24th in points allowed. But that was a big improvement over Denver’s defensive rankings in 2010.

Denver’s only top-10 defense the last six years was in 2009, when Mike Nolan was the coordinator. But that was the season the Josh McDaniels-coached Broncos started 6-0 and finished 8-8.

Defensive coordinators tend to bring their own philosophy to the table. That becomes a problem when turnover at that position is an annual event. The Broncos haven’t been able to maintain consistency in their defensive philosophy.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, for example, have been tracking, drafting and signing similar players on defense for two decades. That’s a big reason they have been consistent winners. The Broncos have had none of that continuity. Some of their coordinators wanted bigger players at certain positions, some wanted quicker players and some didn’t like who was on the roster when they arrived, so they went for quick fixes by signing free agents to one-year contracts.

If another team approaches Del Rio after this season about a head coaching job, there isn’t much the Broncos can do to keep him. They could add “assistant head coach” to his title, but most assistant coaches in the league want to become head coaches. The difference in pay is extraordinary, and head coaches have contracts that guarantee the money they’re owed.

Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson had butterflies before Sunday's game against the Detroit Red Wings. It wasn't because of the big-name opponent, but rather his return from a 13-game injury absence and being stoked to rejoin a team in a playoff push and looking for its third postseason appearance in 10 years.